Catch construction for ironing tables



OGL 11, 1949 o. A. VAN PELT CATCH CONSTRUCTION FOR IRONING TABLES 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 26, 194e ct. 1l, 1949.l o. A. 'VAN FELT CATCHCONSTRUCTION FOR IRONING TABLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 26, 1946Octll, 1949- o. A. VAN PELT CATCH CONSTRUCTION FOR IRONING TABLES I5Shets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 26, 1946 Patented Oct. 1l, 1949 UNITE; STATSi'i'i'ENT OFFICE CATCH CNSTRUCTIN' FOR IRONIN G TABLES' @liver A. lianPelt, Gallen, Mich., assigner to Van Pelt Mfg. C0., Galion, Mich.

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in ironing tables, and moreparticularly, to that type of ironing table whose supporting legs areconveniently capable of being collectively moved from inoperativepositions, i. e., substantially parallel andjuxtaposed relation to thetable top, to operative positions, whereupon they will serve to rmly andsecurely support said top, at proper height, for ironing usage, and bythe same token, may, when desired, be as convcni 'itly collectivelymoved or returned to inopcra positions, hence, providing for compact essi.' permitting storage of the table inA limited ot. -of-theivay space.

The principal desideratum of the invention resides in providing themovable interconnected legs of the ironing table with catch orlockingm'eans of the semi-automatic operational character; automaticallyoperative with movement of said legs into supporting relation to the topto engage and positively secure them against further, and especially,undesired movement, and when so wanted by the table user, capableoibeing manually disengaged from thn legs by such user to release them andallow their free return movement to inoperative or folded relation,-ship to the table top-all without need of the user changing or modifyinghis or her normal ironing position adjacent one or either side of thetop.

Moreover, it is an object of my inventionto provide the table leg catchor locking means with a; sturdy, simple and operationally dependabledevice'for imparting movement thereto, whereby the same, as and whendesired by a user, canbe actuated to impart movement to said meansforeffecting its positive disengagement from an adjacent portion of thepreviously locked or secured legs, thus permitting the latter to bemoved into inoperative or folded relation to the table top; the saiddevice being so constructed, mounted and arranged with respect to thetable top as to. absolutely avoid interference with proper andsatisfactory ironing usage of the table by its user, and also, permitits quick andl convenient engagement by said user for catch or lockrelease operation from a point at either side of the table without hisor her changing positions.

rIhe foregoing, as well as other objects, advantages and meritoriousteachings of my invention, will be in part obvious and in part pointedout in thefollowing detailed disclosure thereof, when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawingait being understood that theparticular form, of the invention presented herein is a pre oise andwhat is now consideredl to be the best mode of embodying itsprinciples', but that modifications and changes may be made in specificembodiments Without departing from its essential features.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of my improved' ironing tableA in a set-uporoperative position, with a portion of its top broken away and shown`lin section to illustrate catch means.

Figure 2 is a similar view in which theiron-ing' table legs are shown ina partially folded or partially inoperative' position.

Figure 3 is a rear end' elevation of the ironing table with a part ofits rearsupporting leg structure broken away.

Figure l isA a fragmentary horizontal' section taken on the line- 4-4 ofFigure 3, looking in the direction in which the arrows point.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating theimproved catch means' inthe pivotal'. mounting of the forward table legVon the table top and in which` said catch means is shown in an operativeposition- Figure 6 is a viewsimilar to Figure 5, in whichA the catchmeans is shown in an inoperative pos-i'- tion whereby to release tablesupporting legIl structures for folding to inoperative positions, andAFigure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detaill in longitudinal sectionillustra-ting the catch means construction and itsV mounting; said catchmeans being shown iny an operative position.

Referring in.A detail to the drawings, the improved ironing table',generally, consists of altopits underside through welding or othersuitable means, and transversely reinforced by channel bars or pieces 8arranged in longitudinallyspaced relation adjacent its under side andsecured' thereto by welding orother means'comparatively' near itsrearwardandforward ends. The chan nelbars, it will-be noted,havefappropriate portions of their sides recessedsothat they straddle orsaddle engage overand across adjacent por-v tions of the channel stripsor ribs l. Also, it is to be noted that the intermediate channel rib 1is made of two sections, one of which corresponds in shape to the outerstrips, While the other and forwardly arranged one I is of substantiallycross-sectionally U-shaped formation, the purpose of which will behereinafter apparent, To effect an additional reinforcing of the top l,more especially, to rigidify its outer marginal and near marginalportions, as well as to eliminate -buckling thereof under stress, achannel (crosssectionally U-shaped) stripv 9 is joined, through weldingor other connection, to the under side of its flat sheet-like bodyadjacent and about its edges. The opposite ends of the spaced transversereinforcing bars 8 are suitably flanged, as indicated at 8', and joinedto adjacent portions of the lower side of the stripping 9, thus,effecting a bracing and reinforcing interconnection between said barsand stripping for further strengthening of the table top.

The rear leg supporting structure 2, hereinafter identified as the rearleg, comprises two corresponding lengths of channel metal Il, preferablysubstantially U-shaped4 in cross-section, whose lower portions areoutwardly obliqued in the manner shown in Figure 3 and provided withsuitable feet II, and whose upper ends are pivoted, as at I2, to theouter depending leg portions of U-shaped strap-brackets I3 xed to thelower sides of that bar 8 nearer the rearward end of the top I inopposed relationship. The strap-brackets I3, as shown in Figure 4 of theaccompanying drawings, are obliquely positioned with respect to said bar8, and so, the inner and adjacent legged ends thereof extend rearwardly-of their outer ends, the purpose of which will be presently apparent.

The top-rear leg truss arms 6 are formed with relatively angledextremities, as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, the lower ofwhich are i'lxedly connected at I4, to corresponding intermediateportions of the channel metal leg lengths I0, and the upper thereof,pivotally connected at I5, to the rearwardly extended or offsetdepending leg portions of the U-shaped strap-brackets I3 (see drawingFigures 1 and 4). Thus, the truss arms 6 will function to materiallystrengthen the rear leg 2, particularly, at those times when stressesare directed thereto'frorn the top I, as during usage of the board.

Describing now, the forward supporting leg structure 3, hereinafterreferred to as the forward leg, this comprises a length of suitable rodor bar metal stock triangularly or V-shaped (see Figure 3). The upperand wider end of said leg is pivotally connected by spaced brackets I6,to the lower flat side of the bar 8 nearer to the forward end of the topI, and its lower and reduced or tapered end is equipped with a suitablefoot Il', for an obvious purpose. Attention is here directed to the factthat the length of the forward leg 3 is such that when the same ispivoted to its operative or supporting position along with the rear leg2, as shown in Figure 1 of the draw`v ings, the talble top I ywill besupported in a horizontal plane.

In order that the rear and forward legs 2 and 3 will :be eiectually andproperly spaced and relatively braced at and throughout those times whenthey are arranged in their operative or supporting positions, I provideto my improved construction, an oblique longitudinally disposed rear andforward leg brace hereinbefore identified by the reference character 4.Said brace consists of a transversely of the under side thereof and hasits' length of suitable rod or bar metal stock of V- shape formation.The free ends, i. e., the wider portion of the brace, are pivoted at I8,to inter mediate portions of the relatively inner sides of the rear leglengths I0, preferably, in proximity to the points of fixed connectionof the truss arms 8 thereto, and the remaining reduced end of the sameembraces the lower end portion of the table forward leg 3 and is pivotedthereto lby a fitting I9 fixed thereon. The length of the rear-forwardleg brace is such that when the rear and forward table legs are swung totheir respective operative or supporting positions, they will be allowedto assume those, or approximately those angular positions illustrated inFigure 1 of the drawings. Thus, stability of support for the table top Iwill be afforded the construction, particularly to the extent that therear and forward legs, when so positioned, will be prevented from havingundesired shifting, folding cr collapsing movement, and moreover, thecatch means or leg and brace locking device, hereinafter more fullydescribed, will be assured of positive operation.

The heretofore referred to top-rear leg brace 5, is made of a length ofrod or bar metal stock bent into substantially V-shape formation. Saidbrace is of a length somewhat less than that of the brace 4 and it isoppositely obliqued longitudinally of the table assembly, having thefree ends of its wider and rearwardly disposed extremity pivotallyconnected to the intermediate portions of the relatively inner sides ofthe rear leg lengths IB adjacent the aforesaid pivotal conn nection ofthe brace I thereto and by the same connection I8.

The remaining and reduced end of the toprear leg brace is slidablyengaged or confined between the dat lower side of the hereinbeforedescribed cross-sectionally U-shape rib I and an elongated guide bracket28, secured thereto. As will be seen upon reference to Figures 2 and 6of the accompanying drawings, the bracket 28 extends longitudinally ofthe rib l1I substantially' throughout its length and is parallelthereto, hence, providing the slidably engaged end of the brace 5 withan effectual slideway. It will, therefore, be understood that withcollective pivotal movement of the legs 2 and 3, by reason of theirinterconne-ction through the brace 4, like move-v ment will be impartedto the brace 5, causing its free end to slide over and between the lowerflat side of the ri 'I' and its bracket 2i).

To effect releasable locking of the aforesaid free and reduced end ofthe brace 5 in its operative position, to wit, the position shown inFigure 1 of the drawings, and thus, lock or retain the rear and forwardtable legs 2 and 3, interconnected by the brace 4, in their respectiveoperating positions (supporting the tabel top I) a channel metalconstructed catch, generally identified at 2 I, is mounted on the innerend portion of the flat lower side of the rib I in proximity to the neartransverse channel bar 8. The catch 2l is pivoted to a winged bracket22, riveted or otherwise connected to said bar 8, as at 23, and isnormally retained in an operative or engaging position, by a coiledspring 24 on its pivot. Portions of the sides of the catch arecomplementally recessed, at Z5, for engagement, at times, over theadjacent reduced end of the brace 5, and its remaining end portionfixedly receives an operating rod 26 therethrough, as clearly shown inFigures 5 and 6. The operating rod, whose length is slightly less thanthe width of the table top I, is disposed assesses 5. opposite endpor-tions movelbly received through the-vertical guide slots otanglebrackets 21 fixed to appropriate under side portions of said top nearits respective opposite sides. Because of the length of` the operatingrod"26`, its opposite ends, as above stated, are arranged i'n proximityto the opposite sides of the top l, readily and con,- veniently engagedby av user ofthe table, when so required; as, forexample, when such userdesires to manually move or pivot the catch l to disengage it from thereduced end of the brace preparatory to folding or pivotally returningthe table legs 2 and il to their inoperative positions (see Figures 5and 6).

Ifdesired, suitable handles, knobs, etc. (not shown)` can be provided tothe ends of the operating Vrod 216 to facilitate its engagement andoperation.

In usage of my improved ironing table, to 1arrange the same in a set-upor usable position, the top l is preferably,though not necessarily,stood on end (rear end), whereupon the free end of the -iorwardleg 3maybey conveniently eng-aged and swung downwardly and outwardly. Suchmotion will effect collective movement of the rear leg 2 and theaforesaid braces 4 and 5, causing them to move. into the relationshipshown in Figure 1 of the drawings. Asrthe free endof the brace 5 slideslongitudinally rearwardly of the under side of the table top lv betweenthe rib 'l1' and the elongated guide Ibracket 23,11'. will engage theadjacent end of the; spring brace,` catch Zi' and will lockingly enterinto, the recesses; 2:5 in its sides, With the free end of the brace 5,thus'lockingly engaged bythe catch, it is manifesty that the same` andthe interconnected rear and forward table legs 2 and 3 will bepositively locked in set-up or operative relation to the table top lland that the ironing table is now ready for use.

To eiect Afolding or collapsing ofv my improved ironing table, la userof the same, without changing his or her position adjacent either sideof the top l, need merely engage the particularly adjacent end of thevertically movably mounted operating rod 26 and to thereupon impart anupward thrust to the same. Such upward thrusting of said end of theoperating rod 26, obviously, lwill eiect pivotal movement of the springbrace catch 2li in a direction which will cause its disengagement fromthe adjacent `free end of the previously engaged brace 5, i. e., therecesses 25 in the opposite sides of the spring pressed pivotal catch 2lwill be removed or disengaged from the transversal free end of saidbrace 5. At this time, the user imparts a rearwardly directed push tothe table top l, thus, causing the interconnected legs 2 and 3 to becollectively swung or pivoted in the manner shown in Figure 2 of thedrawings and the rear leg-top brace 5 to be slid forwardly andlongitudinally of the top l between the rib 'l' and the elongated guidebracket 2li. The start of this folding or collapsing movement, andparticularly, the start of the forward longitudinal movement of thebrace 5, lis well shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. If desired, and forconvenience of the user, the tabletop may now 'be vstood on end(preferably the rear end) and the interconnected pivotal legs then swunginto their completely folded relationship to the lunderside of the tabletop l, i. e., into substantial parallelism thereto. Concurrentlytherewith, it will be understood land appreciated that the braces 4 and5 will also be moved to their completely folded or inoperative positionsin substantial parallelism lto the under side of the table top.

ironing table constructed in accordance with my invention will, as maybe readily appreelated' by- Workers skilled in this particular art,render dependa-ble :and satista-ctory service to a user of the same. Theconstruction of its legs and the relative bracingHof the sameprovide-'for a maximum deg-ree -ofstability ofironing table constructioncapable oi most satisfactorily withstanding the normal stresses and eventhe abnormal stresses incident to usage thereof. Because oftheconstruction and arrangement ofthe catch means for securing thebrace 5in its operative posi-tion, it willv also be understood and`appr-eciated that a user is enabled to conveniently andquick-1ymanually release such lcatch means Without the necessity ofchanging or modifying his'or her position adjacent either side of theironing table top; this being accomplished merely' 'by 'the useryengaging the particularly adjacent end of the operating rod 26'andthrusting or moving lthe saine upwardly through ther vertical guideslots or the bracket 2l" (see Figure 6 of the idnawirngs)l to bringabout pivotall movement or swinging of the catch 2|* in a direction tobe disengaged from the adjacent and previously locked free endlof thebrace '5.-l Incidentally. the rear leeewpbrad@ 5,. functions more 0rless, in the `arait-v `da kel@ locking device or means for the pivotallymounted rear and forward legs '2 and 3 respectively, `which areinterconnected by :the brace hereinbefore described, and so, areyassured of relative collective moi/ement in `a manner to positivelyeffect their positioning, as shown in ligurev l of the girl-rawings,vvijor setting-up, of the ironing table.

I claim:

liv.4 In` combination with anr ironing'. table top and for-yard andrearward interconnect-ed legs, pli-voted. to the normally under side ofthe top,I and a substantially \l-shaped bracepivotally connested at' oneend to one of said legsl having its remaining and free end movablelongitudinally of said under side of the top; a r-ib secured to anddisposed longitudinally of an `intermediate portion of the under side ofthe top and slidably receiving said free end of the V-shaped bracethereover, a guide bracket disposed longitudinally of said rib andconnected thereto at its opposite ends, said guide bracket, between itsopposite ends, being spaced from and substantially parallel to theadjacent and normally under side of the rib, the free end of saidV-shaped brace being slidably confined between said rib and guidebracket, a catch consisting of a body of channeled material pivotallymounted intermediately of its opposite ends on said under side of therib in proximity to one end of said guide bracket and disposedlongitudinally of said rib and guide bracket, one of the end portions ofthe catch body being straddlingly engageable over a portion of the underand opposite sides of said rib and the remaining end portion of saidcatch body being straddlingly engageable o-ver another portion of theunder and opposite sides of said rib and over the adjacent end portionof said guide bracket, spring means engaging the catch body for normallyretaining the remaining end portion thereof in straddling engagementover the rib and the guide bracket, said remaining end portion of thecatch body having its opposite sides complementally rearwardly curvedand said opposite sides having angularly disposed and upwardly openingrecesses formed therein in proximity to the rearwardly curved sides ofthe remaining end portion of said catch body adapted, at times, toengage over the free end of said 7 V-shaped brace and retainthesametherein in bearing engagement with an adjacent portion of theunder side of said rib and against sliding movement longitudinally ofthe rib and the guide bracket.

2. In combination With an ironing table top and forward and rearwardinterconnected legs pivoted to the normally under side of the top and asubstantially V-shaped brace pivotally connected at one end to one ofsaid legs having its remaining and free end movable longitudinally ofsaid under side of the top; a rib secured to and disposed longitudinallyof an intermediate portion of the underside of the top slidablyreceiving said free end of the V-shaped brace thereover, a guide bracketdisposed longitudinally of saidv rib and connected thereto at itsopposite ends, said guide bracket, between its opposite ends, beingspaced from and substantially parallel to the adjacent normally underside of the rib, the free end of said V-shaped brace being slidablyconfined between said rib and guide 1 bracket, a catch consisting of abody of channeled material pivotally mounted intermediately of itsopposite ends on the under side of the rib in proximity to one end ofsaid guide bracket and disposed longitudinally of said rib and guidebracket, one of the end portions of the catch body being straddlinglyengageable over a portion of the under and opposite sides of said riband the remaining end portion of said catch body being straddlinglyengageable over another portion of the under and opposite sides of saidrib and over the adjacent end portion of said guide bracket, springmeans engaging the catch body for normally retaining the remaining endportion of the same in said straddling engagement over the rib and guidebracket, said remaining end portion of the catch body having itsopposite sides complementally rearwardly curved, and the opposite sidesof the catch body having angularly disposed and upwardly openingrecesses formed therein in proximity to the rearwardly curved sides ofthe remaining end portion of said catch body adapted, .at times, toengage over the free end of said V-shaped brace and retain the sametherein and in bearing engagement with an adjacent portion of the underside of said rib against sliding movement longitudinally of the rib andthe guide bracket, a transversely disposed rod xedly connected to saidrst mentioned end portion of the catch body and extending for distancesbeyond the same into proximity to the opposite sides of the table top,and brackets connected to portions of the under side of the table topand dis-posed at substantially right angles thereto, each of saidbrackets having longitudinally disposed slots formed therein receivingadjacent portions of said rod therethrough.

OLIVER A. VAN PELT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 345,620 Cotton July 13, 18864479,301 Parmelee July 419, 1892 700,054 Knapp May 13, 1902 827,673 SwartJuly 31, 1906 1,203,783 Reischmann Nov. 7, 1916 1,277,395 DiCroce Sept.3, 1918 1,895,290 Lobel Jan. 24, 1933 2,235,883 John Mar. 25, 19412,332,927 Miller Oct. 26, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date12,653 Canada Apr. 19, 1881

